Lighter construction



NOV. 4, A1947., A CAMPOS LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 22, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 /Alfllllil flflll I,

NQV. 4, 1947. A, CAMPOS 2,430,102

l LIGHTER CONSTRUCTIONl Filed Dec. 22, 1 944. 2 sheets-'sheet '2 ya W 2u -n 1 M w. 3 WLMI ../F H: ,M WJ, Nv Anf. In 2 2 taken through the une 33 Patented Nov. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention appertains to improvements 'in the construction of cigarand cigarette lighters generally, and more especially to desk or standtypes thereof; having for one of its several objects to provide one thatembodies Certain reinements, artistic and mechanical, which makes vforattractiveness in design, simplicity in construction, inexpensiveness inmanufacture, and eliciency in operation.

Another object of the invention has to do with the provision of alighter construction as above characterized, and one that is made up ofa holder or stand, preferably formed of a molded plastic or likematerial, and a lighter structure, of metal, fitted into the holder orstand, and including a wick carrying torch normally supported in aposition to have the wick dipping into a liquid fuel, contained within areservoir of comparatively large capacity, and an igniter mechanism, ofthe file-wheel and fiint type, to light the wick following the removalof the torch from the reservoir, the torch being used in the manner of amatch for the application of its flame to a cigar, cigarette, or pipe.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of the aforesaidlighter device, wherein the liquid fuel reservoir is provided with afilling opening that is normally closed by the removable torch, so thatthe wick is immerse-d in the liquid fuel, whenever the torch is not inactive use, and the igniter mechanism is conditioned by the torch tooperate automatically to light the wick, following the removal of thetorch from the filling opening of the reservoir.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionresides in the certain new and useful combination, construction, andarrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, setforth in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved lighter, in accordance withthe invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section,

on Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows Figure 4 is avertical, transverse section, taken through the line 4-4 on Figure 3,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a horizontal the line 5-5 on Figure 3, of the arrows;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section,showing the torch removed from its position as in Figure 3 and emplacedin position to condition the igniter mechanism for subsequent automaticoperation to light the wick;

Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6, but showing the relativepositions of the torch section, taken through looking in the directionand the operative parts of the igniter mechanism, following theactuation of the torch to condition the latter as aforesaid; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional detail of the wick tubeof the torch, showing the wick and a coiled spring reinforcementtherefor positioned therein.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts in the several views, the lighterdevice, as it is exemplified therein, is generally comprised in a holderor stand having a top opening and a lighter unit tted within the holder,with the wick torch and the igniter mechanism positioned foraccessibility at the top end of the holder.

The holder is preferably formed of a molded plastic or like material andshaped to substantially rectangular form in plan and a stepped formationin side and end elevation, providing a base portion I0, an intermediateportion I2, and an upper portion I 4, each having their Icorners roundedoif, as at I6, and their top side and end edges likewise rounded olf, asat I8, an opening 20 being provided in the top side of the upper sectionI4 for the fitting of the lighter unit inwardly of the opening. Theattractiveness in the design of the holder may be augmented by making itof materials of a selected color, or colors, either solid or variegated,e. g., the base I0 of one color, the

intermediate portion I 2 of another, and the upper portion I4 of stillanother.

The lighter device is comprised in a substantially rectangular metalcasing, having a hat bottom wall 22, side walls 24, and end walls 26;the cross-sectional area of the casing being such that it snugly fitsthe interior of the holder, from which it can; however, be removed formaintenance and repair. One of the end walls 26, to-

gether with connected portions of the side Walls 24, extends to the topof the holder and connects with a horizontal top wall portion 28, whichencloses slightly less than one-half of the crosssectional area of thecasing. The inner end of this wall 28 connects with a vertical wallportion 30, which depends into the casing for substantially one-half ofthe depth thereof and has itslower end connected with a horizontal wallportion 32 that, in turn, connects with the lower end of a relativelyshort vertical wall portion 34, the latter having its upper end inconnection with the lower end of an upwardly sloping wall portion 36,the upper end of which, in turn, is connected, by a relatively narrowhorizontal wall portion 38, with the upper end of the opposite casingend wall 26, which terminates below the top end of the holder. A fillingopening is provided in the top wall portion 28, of the casing, and isnormally closed by a removable Wick holder or torch, presently to bedescribed.

The torch is comprised in a wick tube 40, that has one end telescopedinto a hollow handle 44, which is also of tubular formation and closedat its free end. The handle 44 is formed toward its connected 4end forsnug fitting .engagement with the ylilling opening in the top wallportion 28 of the casing, thereby preventing loss of the liquid fuel byevaporation, during non-use of the lighter. The closed end of the handle44, beyond the connected end of the wick -tuhe 4B, is preferablyweighted in suitable manner, as by having a poured lead filler or thelike 46 housed within the same. Also, the `l i ar,n;lle 44 may besecured to the wick tube 40, either by a friction t or by screw threadedconnection therewith, as desired. A wick 48 is threaded inwardly of vthe.open end of the tube All, which is preferably slottedzas at d'2, toexpose .the .-ignting .end oct the wick therethrough, lthe latter .endvof the wick iheing vpermitted to project .slightly from the end .of thetube .4o for igniting purposes. The wick 4.8 :is :preferably reinforced,i. e., Astiillened, .by means of an enclosing coil of fine wire =5B, .todacilitate the insertion and ladiustrnent .of the Wick and to otherwisesupport it .in a manner fte prevent .of its .loeing forced entirely intothe tube.

{Ihe igniter mechanism .is :partially housed within the depression :orrecess '52, .provided 'by the irregular formation yof the top wall.ofthe lighter casing, and siscomprised in a i'llefwheel .E8 .mountedfor rotation .on a shaft *58 that .is .journalled at .ends :in thespaced arms fili .of Aa .bracket 5.4, which lis secured in proper:position .on the horizontal lwall portion :36 .of the .casing The raSp,surfaqe of the ille-.wheel :Sil isilocated bef- Atil/.een loppositelydisposed setsof -.ratohet teeth 5i, formed integrally y.with the ovheelbody .for :the engagement :therewith .of .an actuating lmemher or -pawln64. 'This `member 'G4 isifof 'arcuate form Witha 'lengthsuicient :toencircle Ysubstanlifrll ono-.half of :the circumference .of the Vfile-W-:hool il .and a -width vslightly greater .than 4the .nthzof :thelatter, Ito have angularly ibentside portions 54' enga-ged .with theshaft li?, between the ends of the fileewheel 60 `and .the ibracket arms55. The inwardly directed .end o the ac.- tuating member 17234 isf-angularly :bent and .relatively narrow ,danse zwhich .spam the teethsets d2 for operative engagement therewith. normally rdiSDOSod, 'themember i164 Aconsti tutes a protective :hood 'for the aile-wheel byenolosing'gsubstantially all .-offthat portion ofthe latter whichprojects .from the Iopen .end .of the lighter rholdor.

@Motion ris :to be ,imparted tofthe :ille-wheel ,68 through the teeth:sets 62 Iby .apulling .motion imparted ,to the actuating member Se .atlits louter end Awhich pivot connections, as at 68, 'with theupperendsofa pair of .arms 'la tha-textend downwardlywithintheidepressiononrecessfz for pivot-ed connectipngas at 11.2,withia spring-biased vertically.- disposed ,reeiprocatory .plunger i111,mounted inthe upperend.Qfualgldetubeld .the latter :extending-lvertioolly :within the :interior of the -Acasine from :a point of.seoureineot on the bottom wall .f2.2 and openinethrouehsthe 'horizontalWall portion 32, forming theipbottorn .wall -of the depressiony orlrecess. loused :within theA guide tube J5, :below the plunger 1.4, fis.a ooilednniile 1 8 which ,functions to sustain v.the plunger iin itsnormally elevated Ipetition within the toner .end Qftheeuideltubeandtoreturnimtothat position whenereritisoepressed. ermselieeepiveted tothe actuating member 64 at points thereonfoff dead center .with .respectto rthe Shaft -5,-o-.lh.at,

TVO

with a downward movement of the plunger 14 in the guide tube T6, themember will be moved outwardly and downwardly about the shaft andeooaurrentlv with e lille directional .rotation 1mpar-ted to thefelt-Wheel t? through the pull of the flange 68 engaged with the teeth62. Positioned beneath the rasp surface of the nie-wheel 60, lis aflintl 80, which is carried in the upper end .of a feed tube 82, thatrises vertically through the casing from a point of securement on thebottom wall 22 and opens through the sloping wall pori/ i921 355 .a.soiled spring 8B being housed within the feed tube 82, beneath theilint, to urge it into contact with the rasp surface of the filewheeland, by the expansion action thereof, maintain it in such .contactthroughout its useful life. lower end .of the feed tube 82 opens through`the 'bottom -wall 2'2 and is normally closed 'by a screw `84, upon `theremoval of which, following -tl're Withdrawal of the 'lighter from theholder, access may be had to the interior .of the tube for the removaland replacement of .the coiled :Spring .86 and the flint 88. vExtendingfrom the top end of the plunger 14, is a member 8.8, which 'projectsupwardly through an angled guide breek- .t secured ,on the vertical wallportion G9, and .Qar'ries a slightly .dished .pushed plate 98 on theupper end thereof, normally supporting it .at the level Aof the top wallportion 2.8, in the space be.. tween the inner end .of the latter andthe opposed part of the igniter mechanism. Extra flints gli are to beconveniently housed within a .compartment -94 opening through an end ofthe pase portion l0 .of the holder for the lighter, .the open vend .0fthe .oompartment being closed .by a removable closure, such as the screwes.

[Ifo lcondition the lighter for use, it will h'st .be removed from theholder for the removal of the screw 84 and the coiled spring '8 6 fromthe 1QW1` 11.11 of the leed .tube 82 and the insertion of ,a flint 8,0inwardly thereof. By inverting the lighter, the flint 8 0 will Slide inY.the feed .tube .82 and into GQIltfdGt with the -rasp surface Aof theillell/lleel 159, after which, the coiled spring 8B will he ;r5P.laQodand tensioned against the opposed end of the llint, when .the screw 84-is engaged in the tube end and .tightened in place. With -the lighterreturned .to upright position and, -if desired, replaced within theholder, the -torch Ywill loe Wllldfwll :from its ,engagement -wth the`lilling opening 'in the top -wall portion 28, for the IHiQdlJ-Ston.therethrough `of a quantity .of the liquid feel ton-11 .the .casing .toa .desired level, following which, the torch will lbe reseated in thefilling opening for the saturation .of the Wick 48 with the liquid fuel.

With the 'lighter :thus .conditioned it is .to be operated Joy fh-stremoving the torch from the filling opening and then ,engaging :the wick.end thereof with :the pusher .pia-te a, when, with o downward pressureon the handle .4.4, the latter is depressed inwardly .of the recess 52,`forcing the plunger 14 nownwarmy within .the guide .tube l5 :andplaoine fthe .coiled Spring 18 under -Gompression. The downwardmoYemen-tof the Aplungor J4 :is translated-.into rotary motion at thelewheel 169 through :the arms 13) and the protecting hood B4, theswinging movement .of the latter lon the ST-*loft .58 being transmitted-to the fileewheel @D jby fthe .engagement of the flange 6 with,theteetlfl i2 with the rotation Aof the ille.- wheel 69, the .obresineeffect .of its resp `surface @il the niet lill causes sparks :to beprojected against the exposed one .of the wick .4a Ito .ignite thesanie- Due 5to :the pressure .of the torch against the pusher plate 99,the wick end is spread laterally about the end of the Wick tube 40, withportions of the same projecting outwardly of the slots 52, so that asufficient portion thereof is fully exposed to the sparks emitted fromthe dint. Upon the flaming of the wick end, the torch is withdrawn fromits engagement with the pusher plate 99 for subsequent use in lighting acigar, cigarette, or pipe, as the case may be. With the relief ofpressure on the pusher plate 90, the coiled sp-ring 'i8 immediately actsto return the parts to their original positions, exerting its expansionforce on the lower end of the plunger 14 to that end.

Having thus fully described my invention, it is to be understood thatchanges in design of either the holder or the lighter, or both, as Wellas in minor details of construction and arrangement of parts, may beresorted to, provided that such changes fall within the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A lighter construction comprising a closed casing constituting areservoir for liquid fuel and having a lling opening in its top wall,said casing being provided with a multi-sided portion extendingdownwardly from its top thereof into the space constituting the fuelreservoir at one side of said filling opening and being innon-communication with said space, a wick-type torch removably seated insaid filling opening With the Wick thereof dipping into the liquid fuel,a le Wheel provided with a rasp surface mounted for rotation in saidmulti-sided portion and supported thereon, ratchet teeth on said Wheeladjacent said rasp surface, a feed tube extending vertically throughsaid casing for supporting a flint relative to said le wheel, resilientmeans within said feed tube to urge said int into contact With the raspsurface of said le Wheel, and a flint igniter mechanism including aswingablymounted actuating member of arcuate form and of a lengthsuicient to encircle substantially onehalf of the circumference of saidle wheel and having on an end thereof a flange in operative engagementwith the ratchet teeth for imparting rotary motion to the file wheel toabrade said flint to produce sparks, a vertically-disposed reciprocatoryplunger, a pair of arms having their upper ends pivoted to saidactuating member and having their lower ends pivoted to said plunger,and a pusher plate carried by said plunger, said igniter mechanism beingoperable by a pushing force exerted against said pusher plate by saidtorch after its removal from said filling open- 1ng.

2. A lighter construction comprising a closed casing constituting areservoir for liquid fuel and having a filling opening in its top wall,said casing being provided with a multi-sided portion extendingdownwardly from its top thereof into the space constituting the fuelreservoir at one side of said filling opening and being innoncommunication with said space, a wick-type torch removably seated insaid filling opening with the wick thereof dipping into the liquid fuel,a shaft in said multi-sided portion and supported thereon, a le wheelprovided with a rasp surface rotatably mounted on said shaft, ratchetteeth on said wheel adjacent said rasp surface, a feed tube extendingvertically through said casing for supporting a nint relative to said lewheel', resilient means within said feed tube to urge said flint intocontact with the rasp surface of said file wheel, and a flint ignitermechanism including an actuating member of arcuate form and of a lengthsufficient to encircle substantially one-half of the circumference ofsaid file wheel mounted on said shaft for swinging movement, saidactuating member having on an end thereof a flange in operativeengagement with the ratchet teeth for imparting rotary motion to thefile wheel to abrade said iiint to produce sparks, a verticallydisposedguide tube, a spring-biased plunger mounted in said tube, a pair ofdownwardly-extending arms having their upper ends pivoted to saidactuating member and having their lower ends pivoted to said plunger, amember projecting upwardly from the upper end of said plunger andcarried thereby, and a pusher plate on said last-named member, saidigniter mechanism being operable by a pushing pressure exerted againstsaid pusher plate by said torch after its removal from said llingopening.

3. A lighter construction comprising a closed casing constituting areservoir for liquid fuel and having a filling opening in its top wall,said casing being provided with a multi-sided portion eX- tendingdownwardly from its top thereof into the space constituting the fuelreservoir at one side of said lling opening and being innon-communication with said space, a wick-type torch removably seated insaid filling opening with the wick thereof dipping into the liquid fuel,a le Wheel provided with a rasp surface mounted for rotation in saidmulti-sided portion and supported thereon, oppositely-disposed s e t sof ratchet teeth on said wheel adjacent said rasp surface, a feed tubeextending vertically through said casing for supporting a flint relativeto said file Wheel, a coil spring within said feed tube to urge saidflint into contact with the rasp surface, and a flint igniter mechanismincluding a swingably-mounted actuating member of arcuate form and of alength sufficient to encircle substantially one-half of thecircumference of said le wheel and having on an end thereof a iiange inoperative engagement with the sets of ratchet teeth for imparting rotarymotion to the file wheel to abrade said flint to produce sparks, aspring-biased verticallydisposed reciprocatory plunger, a pair of armshaving their upper ends pivoted to said actuating member and havingtheir lower ends pivoted to said plunger, and a pusher plate carried bysaid plunger, said igniter mechanism being operable by a pushingpressure exerted against said pusher plate by said torch after itsremoval from said filling opening.

ADOLPH CAMPOS.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

